Master Recycler Composter Program

What is the Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Program?

The Master Recycler Composters of Thurston County is a county-based volunteer service program managed through the WSU Thurston County Extension office in Olympia. Master Recycler Composter (MRC) volunteers are trained on how to reduce waste and increase public awareness of opportunities to prevent waste, recycle and compost in Thurston County.

MRC volunteers serve with local organizations, community members, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, or at special events encouraging waste prevention, recycling, and composting. On-going continuing education opportunities are provided to all MRC volunteers to stay up to date on the ever-changing landscape of recycling regulations, waste reduction techniques, and composting science.

In order to serve in their capacity as MRC volunteer in the community, they must first complete the MRC volunteer training where they receive the in-depth knowledge necessary to be successful. See the MRC Volunteer Training section below for more information about the annual MRC volunteer training.

Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Volunteer Training

• Do you live, work, or operate a business in Thurston County and are interested in becoming a certified Master Recycler Composter volunteer?  Learn more about how to become an MRC volunteer on our training page.

Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Program activities for our Thurston County community

• 2021 Virtual Workshops
• Compost Demonstration Sites – learn more about bin styles and composting at one of our Demonstration Sites
• Master Your: Garden, Compost, and Recycling Education Day
• Community Events and Outreach

Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Program services and online resources for our Thurston County community

• Do you have a composting or recycling question? Contact our Q&A clinic and get your questions answered by a certified MRC volunteer.
• Gardening, Composting, and Recycling Resources
• Thurston County and City of Olympia Solid Waste Resources
  • Thurston County Solid Waste webpage – Where Do I Take My? Database, Hazardous Waste disposal, What goes in my recycle cart?
  • City of Olympia webpage – What Goes Where? Database, curbside collection schedule, Recycle Coach
• Composting Resources
  • Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Program YouTube Channel 
    • Home Composting Basics webinar (May 6, 2021)
    • How To Build A Compost Pile webinar (July 22, 2021)
    • Other videos on composting at home
  • Backyard Composting – WSU Publication EB1784E
  • A User’s Guide to Compost – includes a guide on buying compost
  • Herbicide-contaminated Compost and Soil Mix – what you should know and what you can do about it – OSU Publication EM9308
  • How to Use Compost in Gardens and Landscapes – OSU Publication EM9308
  • University of Illinois Extension Worms Program webpage
• Compost Bin Plans
  • Wire mesh compost unit
  • Wood and wire three bin composting unit
  • Concrete block three bin compost unit
  • Wood Worm composting bin plans
  • Plastic tub worm bin plan
  • Pros and cons of different bin styles
• WSU Extension Office and Demo Garden Site Directions

Information for Current MRC Volunteers

Click here to go to TOSS (password-protected)

Click here to go to the 2021 MRC Trainees webpage (password-protected)

MRC Volunteer Yearly Service Commitments:

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the MRC volunteer service requirements for 2021 will only include 5 hours of continuing education. Volunteers are not required to give 20 hours for “your choice” volunteer activities in 2021, although volunteer opportunities will be provided if COVID restrictions allow. We anticipate the typical volunteer service requirements will resume in 2022.

Typical annual volunteer service requirements:

Master Recycler Composters will be asked to give a minimum of 25 service hours per year

• 20 hours of “your choice” volunteer activities.
• 5 hours of Continuing Education (CE) hours.

20 hours of service can be earned in one or more of numerous Master Recycler Composter program areas.

This could include:

• Community outreach booth opportunities
• Events
• Workshops
• Waste Less Food projects
• Demonstration garden composting
• Re-purposing projects
• Special projects
• Children’s programming
• Individual interest projects

The 5 continuing education (CE) hours can be earned by: (only a sampling of potential activities)

• Attend educational offerings sponsored by our program. Field trips to Silver Springs, Material Recycling Facilities, etc.
• Attend other waste reduction related learning opportunities/festivals within the community and region.
• Read current waste reduction books. (Recycling, composting, reducing your carbon footprint etc.)
• Watch current waste reduction movies. (Check out movies from the Thurston County Solid Waste lending library.)

ACTIVE members will be asked to record all service hours volunteered on a monthly basis via an  on-line system.

ACTIVE members will be asked to complete and return a Master Recycler Composter Recommitment form on a yearly basis.

Every other year ACTIVE members will be subject to a Washington state background check.  This is done to protect the public in which we serve as well as the other Master Recycler Composter team members.